Civil society organizations

UNDP and civil society organizations

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Civil Society Advisory Committee The Civil Society Advisory Committee to the Administrator was created in 2000 as a formal mechanism for dialogue between civil society representatives and UNDPs senior management. The purpose of the Advisory Committee, which brings together a group of 16 civil society leaders is to serve as a strategic advisory body and sounding board to the UNDP Administrator and senior management on key policy and programming issues. The committee is of vital importance to contribute to a strong partnership between the UN and civil society. The global crisis in multilateralism, multiple governance challenges, and the potential threats to the MDG and aid agendas from the financial crisis underline the need for the UN to reach out and work creatively with its partners and allies, among whom we count civil society in all its diversity. The committee was renewed in January 2009 with 10 new members. The committee meets annually in New York. Click here to see the biographies of the Committee members.

UNDP partners with a wide cross-section of local, regional and global Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in programme implementation and policy advocacy across its six thematic areas: Democratic Governance, Poverty Reduction, Crisis Prevention and Recovery, HIV/AIDS, Energy and Environment, and Women's Empowerment. Supporting the capacity development of civil society is central to this partnership. UNDP also works to strengthen the legal, regulatory, and normative environment in which civil society functions and collect baseline information on civil society to provide an accurate assessment of their characteristics.

Who do we work with?

Civil Society is no longer restricted to the role of service delivery but are increasingly influential in policymaking and performing watchdog functions. Among its potential civil society partners, UNDP includes intermediary non-government organizations (NGOs), cooperatives, trade unions, service organizations, community-based organizations (CBOs), indigenous peoples' organizations (IPOs), youth and women's organizations, academic institutions, policy and research networks, and faith-based organizations. UNDP engages with CSOs that work towards inclusive globalization, promoting accountability, increased political participation and linkages between the grass-roots and the national policy arenas.

How do we work with civil society?

UNDP has a presence in over 160 countries. Our country offices are normally the first line of contact for many of our national civil society partners. A number of country offices and the UN Country Teams often have appointed civil society focal points. The Civil Society Division at UNDP headquarters provides policy and advisory support to UNDP staff and engages actively with civil society. UNDP also has civil society advisors located in global and regional offices, including the regional centres. Our engagement is mandated and guided through various policy documents and tools, including UNDP and Civil Society Organizations: A Policy of Engagement.